About the Author

Mark J. Armstrong was born April 10, 1959 in New Orleans, Louisiana to proud parents George & Lillie Armstrong. He has two sisters, Carol and Bonnie, and one brother, George. Although he has lived most of his life in the Big Easy (outside of six years near Savannah, Georgia), he moved to Birmingham, Alabama shortly after Hurricane Katrina, where he lived until June 2008. He has finally found his way back to New Orleans and is delighted for the opportunity to return home. Mark began journaling in 1994 and has penned his daily thoughts every day since. Much of his writings in Hurricanes & Rainbows were lifted and adapted from his journal entries.Actually, Mark never set out to write a published book. As part of his therapy, he wrote about the experiences that led to his depression. In 28 days, he produced a 474 page book, which he fully intended to place on a shelf, take down and read in 10 years, and thank God for how far he had come. But when a few trusted friends read his manuscript, they encouraged him to pursue publishing, which he did in the Fall of 2006. His first book, Hurricanes & Rainbows ~ Finding Life's Promise After the Storm was released in April, 2007.Being a newly published author (or "P.A." as his friends call him!) has been a whirlwind experience for Mark. He is learning the ropes of PR, marketing, and promotion, mostly through trial and error. Friends hosted his first book signing June 30. He attended PR & Marketing Guru, Steve Harrison's "Million Dollar Author Crash Course" in Philadelphia, July 10-12. And he was interviewed on WERC Radio in Birmingham July 25. He has been blessed to have his dear friend, Margaret Wilson, help with press releases, letters, emails, and phone calls! He currently has two other books in progress, Pennies From Heaven ~ Blessings in Your Life & Mine, a book which expounds on his "Penny Blessings" alluded to in Hurricanes & Rainbows, and Losing Doesn't Make You A Loser!, a book which chronicles losses in his life and how he turned those losses into gains.Mark has dedicated 10% of his book's royalties to Hurricane Katrina relief in his native New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region. From the book's back cover..."Mark J. Armstrong, a native of New Orleans, was alive and well three weeks before Hurricane Katrina ravaged his beloved city. Three weeks prior to the storm, he experienced the first in a series of ten life changing events that plunged him into a deep depression. Hurricanes & Rainbows chronicles those events and tells how he found life's promise again after the storm. His story will inspire you to find the promise of life after struggling through your own personal storm."